Toy



' Patented Oct. 21, 1924.

THOMAS D. SEGEBERG, 0F SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

TOY.

Application Bled June 11, 1924. Serial No. 719,399.

ToV all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS D. SEGEBERG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved toy and has general reference to a lioating balloon.

The present invention relates to a combination of miniature parts, which are adapted to simulate, as far as possible, an actual balloon carrying a parachute, from which a human being is suspended, and supported in iiight during thel descension of the parachute.

More specifically speaking, I propose to provide a gas filled balloon, a parachute which is weighted by an imitation figure, and novel means which is arranged between the balloon and the parachute, for automatically releasing the latter at a predetermined time.

@ne feature of the invention is derived from the use of a common toy balloon of the gas filled type, which permits ready attachment of the improved automatic expansion device, parachute, and parachute re leasing means thereto.

Another feature and a resultant advantage is produced by so constructing the device, as to permit the escape of all gas that is left in the main balloon, immediately after the parachute has been released for descension, whereby the balloon'and means which it carries, will fall to permit it to be reused.

Furthermore, I provide a novel device of this class, which is comparatively simple4 in construction, exceedingly light in weight to insure effective floating, and inexpensive to both the manufacturer and user.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts through-out the same, the figure shows, partly in elevation, and partly in section, a toy constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed that the toy balloon is designated by the reference character 1, and

as usual this balloon is provided with a neck 2 by means of which it is filled with an expansion gas. The miniature parachute is designated by the reference character 2, and this is normally in a contracted condition. The supporting strings of the parachute are permanently connected with a iigure 3, which in the present instance simu* lates a living aviator. For a purpose to be hereinafter described, the parachute is provided at its top with an attaching eye 4. In accordance with the present invention, I use an elongated aluminum tube 5, which is pointed at its opposite ends. At its lower end the tube is closed, while at its upper end it is rovided with a restricted intake port 6. lso, at a point intermediate its ends it is provided with a discharge port 7. A hooked latch 8 is pivoted to the lower end of a tube, in any suitable fashion, and in practice, the hook of the latch is connected to the eye 4 on the parachute, in the manner shown in the drawing. Furthermore, if desired, the tube may be provided adjacent its upper end with a circumferential rib or bead 9, for disposition in the neck 2 of the balloon to assist in maintaining the parts in assembled relation.

The so-called expansion device and latch releasing device is in the form of a doublechamber rubber balloon 10, which has its upper end fixed to the tube 5, and has its lowerv end slidably connected to the tube. In carrying out the latter result, I attach the portion 11 to the part 10, so as to insure rigidity of construction, free sliding, and a fluid tight joint. It is to be observed that the expansion chamber or balloon 10 is attached to the tube 5 at a point above the fiuid escape port 7,.,so that the escaping fluid will enter the chambers to distend the device as seen in dotted lines.

In practice, the .toy is used in the following manner. The toy balloon l is preferably pre-filled with gas and the neck 2 is tied with a string in the usual way, to prevent escape of the gas. This part is normally eX- panded when the toy is bought. The string used to close the neck 2 is preferably tied by a slip knot or its equivalent, so that it may be readily united. Then, too, the string is tied to the neck at a point quite close to the body of the balloon, so as to leave a projecting portion to permit insertion of the pointed end of the tube 5, before the string 1s disconnected. In this manner, es-

ca e of gas from the balloon is-obviated. y simultaneously untying the stringand inserting the tube, the parts take the position illustrated in the drawing. Now, while the balloon ascends, the gas from the interior thereof slowly escapes through the intake port 6 and passes out through the port 7 into the superposed chambers of the expansion device 10. The latter is comparatively light in weight and 1s readlly eX- panded by the incomin gas. When the element 10 is fully disten ed, the washer ll on the bottom thereof comes into contact with the upper free end of the latch 8, thus swinging the latter upon its pivot and dlsconnectmg it from the eye on the parachute. Thus, while the device is suspended in the air, the parachute' is released, and the weighted body 3 causes the parachute to open and permlts slow'descent of the parachute and figure. In this Away, the device simulates a full sized balloon releasing a parachute and man for a down fiight. It is to be observed that at about the same time the latch is released, the washer 11 moves down over the lower pointed end of the tube 5, and hence, it is only a short time until the entire gas content of the main balloon l is released, thereby permitting the latter to come down and e used over again.

Undoubtedly the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the accomi panying drawing, will 'sutlice to enable the reader to obtain a thorough comprehension of the invention. For this reason, it is thought that a more lengthy description is unnecessary.

While I have shown and described' the specic embodiment of the invention, I wish it tol b understood that changes may be resorted to, such as fall within the scope of the adjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A toy comprising a balloon, ed parachute, and means interposed between the two for automatically releasing the parachute at a predetermined time.

a weight- 2. A toy of the class described comprising a balloon, a release device carried thereby, a parachute connected with said device, and a balloon controlled expansion means active on said device for automatically releasing the parachute at a predetermined time, uring the flight of the toy.

3. A toy of the class described comprising a balloon, a tube inserted into the neck of the latter and having an air intake and a discharge port in communication with the interior of the balloon, a latch on said tube, Ia parachute detachably connected with said latch, and an expansion the escaping fluid from the balloon for automatically operating said latch at a predetermined time to release' the parachute.

4. A toy of the class described com rising a balloon inflated with gas, said ballloon having a contractible filler neck, a gas conveying tube inserted into the neck and having a gas intake in its inner end provided with a gas discharge port intermediate its end, a flexible expansion device surrounding and fixed at theupper end to said tube at a point above said discharge port, the lower end of said device having' slidable connection with the tube at a point below said port, so that it will be slowly distended by the escaping gas, a hooked latch pivotally connected to the lower end o1' the tube, a parachute having an attaching eye to which the hook of said latch is normally connected, anda weighted toy figure carried by the supporting strings of the parachute.

5. In a toy of the class described, a tube tapered at its opposite ends, one of said ends being provided with an opening, said tube being provided intermediate its ends with a second opening, a hooked latch pivoted to the lower end of the tube, and a chambered expansion element surrounding the tube and having its ends connected with the latter at points above and below the second named opening.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

THOMAS D. SEGEBERG.

device acted on by 

